Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Week: Sonya Stout

DECATUR COUNTY, Tenn. — Sonya Stout teaches Spanish at Riverside High School and has been teaching for 17 years. “Sometimes it can be fun to learn and not always, you know, ‘no, you need to do this,'” Stout said.

She said it’s great to work with high school students because they make her think outside the box. “They know a lot more about things than I did simply because they have more technology and stuff. So you kind of got to keep on your toes.”

Stout grew up in Lexington and attended Union University. She said it was her 12th grade English teacher who inspired her to teach.

“My primary focus was English, but they had the need for a second language teacher, so I just went that path and just love what I do.”

Stout said she remembers what it’s like to be a teenager so she applies what she liked while in school to her classes.

“A lot of times it’s a frustration that they have, and if you can get them through that frustration then they say ‘oh no, this isn’t quite as hard as I thought it would be.'”

Stout will now be eligible for the statewide Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award. Starting in March, to vote for her or any of the other nominees visit seehowitaddsup.com.

To nominate a teacher for our weekly award, email us at educator@wbbjtv.com.